Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California have filed 95 border-related cases this week. The charges include bringing in aliens for financial gain, reentering the U.S. after deportation, and importation of controlled substances.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California is among the busiest federal districts due to a high volume of border-related crimes. This district covers San Diego and Imperial counties, sharing a 140-mile border with Mexico, including the San Ysidro Port of Entry, known as the world’s busiest land border crossing.
The Southern District also handles proactive cases related to terrorism, organized crime, drugs, white-collar fraud, violent crime, cybercrime, human trafficking and national security.
Recent arrests include Lorenzo Arturo Bernabe-Alejo on July 6 for being found in the U.S. after deportation near Otay Mesa Port of Entry; Luis Fernando Ramos-Mendez on July 7 for bringing in aliens for financial gain at San Ysidro Port of Entry; and Refugio Ramos Daniel on July 7 for importing methamphetamine at San Ysidro Port of Entry.
This week also saw convictions and sentences for individuals with criminal records related to border crimes. Eliseo Gonzalez Chaidez was sentenced to 24 months in custody on July 7 for illegal reentry into the U.S., while Francisco Ramirez received a 36-month sentence on July 9 for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine.
Federal law enforcement has been focusing immigration prosecutions under Operation Take Back America priorities on undocumented aliens engaged in criminal activity within the U.S., prioritizing investigations against drug and firearm smugglers who pose threats to community safety.
These cases were referred or supported by various federal law enforcement partners such as Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), along with state and local law enforcement partners.
Indictments and criminal complaints are allegations only; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
